The Washington critic., 1887-02-05
JOHNS BOY"

John Preston turned sharply around
TO see who had addressed him, and
saw thin, hungry. faced boy, not more
,han twelve years old, his clothes
, threadbarc, and his shoes the worse for
wear.
At this moment Mr.. Preston was try
ing TO solvc the difficult problem of
how his heavy. laden apple orchard
was to be cleared, and the fruit safely
stored before frost He did not under
stand the question, but he instinctively
put his hand in his pocket and brought
out handful of pennies and dimes.
The boy blushed as he moved his
feet uneasily as If to hide the hole in
his shoes, as he said ;
NO, sir, please don't; only asked
you for job; don't want money un-
ill have earned it..
"a job well, what can man of
your e.4e do?" asked Mr.. Preston,
laughing, as he put the coin back in
II can do what I'm told, or at least
I'll try"
We'll If you can and will do that,
you will do better than the average.
If We can agree on terms, you are iust
the man for me, said Mr.. Preston.
just then came the call to supper,
and the man led The way to the house,
followed by the boy. As they came to
the door the boy stopped, and said:
II guess / won't go in; I'll wait here
until you come out.
Nonsense, boy, come along"
They entered the large, pleasant
room. where they found the rest of the
family waiting for them.
Father Preston was an invalid, being
crippled by rheumatism so that he could
not walk without the help of crutch
Mother Preston was quiet, motherly
little woman, who was always ready to
do kindly deed or to help one who
was in trouble.
Hannah, the "help," was perfect
housekeeper, but her best friends had
TO own that she had "nerves."
Father Preston was already seated at
the table when they entered, and
looked up in surprise as John came in
with his strange companion.
Father, l have just hired new
man."
Man what can he do"
"Do as tell him"
"llumph ~
He was Il man of few words, but he
contrived TO make that "humph' very
expressive 10 the boy who stood there,
feeling very uncomfortable under the
old mans keen eycs, which seemed to
be reading his very thoughts.
Mother Preston said nothing, but
moved her plate little to make room
for another, and called Hannah to
bring chair for the boy.
Hannah did as she was told but
could not refrain from giving some
, sharp looks nj the new conner. Soon
they were all seated at the table, and
the boy had such supper as he sci.
dom enjoyed at home. Biscuit and
butter, baked potatoes with real cream
on them, u slice of nice cake. and Il
goblet full OF milk all for himself.
He thought of little Katie at home,
, and of how only that morning she had
been so pleased with little cup of milk
that a ncighbor had given, how she had
shared II with Teddy-each casting
of II in turn until It was all gone-"if
she only had ihis:"
A queer feeling came over the boy as
he thought Of home, and for moment
he forgot that he was among strangers,
even forgot the keen old eyes opposite
that were watching him so closely.
After supper John took the boy out
with him TO attend to the usual even.
ing work. After all was done for the
night, John, by few kindly ques.
licns, soon learned all about his past
life.
His name was Lewis Stone, and his
father had been n carpenter, but had
been killed by the falling of scaflod
about two years before. \ small sum
of money which was saved for a
rainy day and the house and little
garden where they lived was all that
was left
With Lewis care the garden sup.
piled them with vegetables. and his
mother did plain sewing. But work
was not plenty, and Amy, the oldest of
the family, lett the high school, where
she was in her last year, and standing
high in her class, and took the posi-
tiOn Of primary teacher in the little
town of Elm Crossing, five miles from
home.
Little Ted, the cripple, and three.
years old Katie comprised the family.
This was the first time that Lewis
had left home, and 1t was not strange
that he was just little bit homesick as
he found himself alone in his little
room under the Preston roof that
night.
"The idea of Johns hiring that
boym said father,
"Whoeyer he is we will try and make
him happy while he stays here, said
the kind little mother.
Out on the back porch Hannah was
telling her much esteemed self-"what
did Mr., John bring that boy here for.
He'll stone the cat, tease Major, and
then, The pears and grapes-ough.
Boys are no good anyhow"
Brave John Preston lie had given
up his college course year hcfors
and come home TO care for his father
In illness, and, when it was decided
he would always be lame, he had taken
the whole care of the farm and proved
that good education did not spoil u
farmer.
Lewis soon learned to like living on
farm, and if he was somewhat awli-
ward at first he soon grew accustomed
10 his duties,
Major, the watch dog, was his de,
y voted follower, and the horses soon
learned to know him. They were his
. cpnnia1 fripn1g anil ,ubon llNr Johnp